Mental Meanderings

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

*chuckles* Ok, so I was minding my own business last night. Working like I work and chatting like I chat when all of a sudden the world disappears. *pauses for dramatic effect* Well not literally obviously but since I spend so much time online sometimes it feels like the real world to me. More so then the real, real world feels. So when my connection died and wouldn't resurrect last night I was very lost and sad.

A few weeks ago I applied to switch my broadband connection to a new service provider and I knew it was due to happen any day now so I wasn't too surprised or worried. It did mean I didn't get my blog up at the same time I normally do and meant that once again you all missed out on my Limericks thoughts.

The good news is that this morning I was able to get the connection up and running with the new service provider and even better is that the new service is double the speed of the old one. *grins* If you thought you had trouble keeping up with my chatter before now I can do it twice as fast.

Ok, so my little bouncing of joy and happiness over my new connection is done. Onward to LIMERICKS...

My new friend, GregRyan created a contest for all poets and even non-poets out there in WDC land. I think sometimes when we're heavy into the writing frame of mine (I know you blog addicts don't remember that do you? ) Anyway, when we're putting our all into getting everything perfect in anything we right it's draining and sometimes you forget to have fun. I know sometimes I get so frustrated with my writing that it's tempting to yell, "NO MORE!!!"

What I love about limericks is that they're lighthearted. Their short, simple, and when done right give a delighted chuckle. In a way limericks say, "It's ok not to take yourself so seriously all the time". and sometimes I think we all need to be reminded of that.

Limericks are a deceptively simple form. Some rules claim more complexity then others and thankfully "Invalid Item"  sticks to the basics. All limericks should follow the aabba rhyme scheme and this isn't difficult to accomplish. The only other requirement for many of todays limericks is that they have a humorous twist.

There is however so much more to crafting limericks as they were originally formed. The extended rules includes a specific meter although the meter required is sometimes debated about. Following is some of what wikipedia.com has to say about the limerick poetry form:

"The rhyme scheme is usually 'A-A-B-B-A', with a rather rigid meter. The first, second, and fifth lines are three metrical feet; the third and fourth two metrical feet. The foot used is usually the amphibrach, a stressed syllable between two unstressed ones. However it can be considered an anapestic foot, two short syllables and then a long, the reverse of dactyl rhythm. However, many substitutions are common." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerick_(poetry)

Getting into the talk of feet can be confusing to new (and even some not-so-new) poets. It gets easier to follow with practice so bare with me. *grins* A metric foot is usually a connection of syllables. The types of feet each have different names depending on which of those syllables are stressed. An iamb for example (used in sonnets) is one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. da-DUM.

In limericks the two common metric feet used are: Amphibrach and Anapest. And An amphibrach foot consists of an unstressed syllable, followed by a stressed and then another unstressed. da-DUM-da
An anapest is two unstressed followed by a stressed. da-da-DUM.

The most common limerick tends to be an iamb followed by two anapests on the first, second, and fifth lines. da-DUM, da-da-DUM, da-da-DUM. (The debate generally that this same line might be two amphibrach's followed by an iamb.) Another acceptable variation tends to be: da-DUM-da, da-DUM-da, da-DUM-da. That's three amphibrachs. Really it doesn't matter so long as the meter is consistent on lines one, two, and five. Lines three, and four also follow a meter, one iamb foot and one anapest (or amphibrach then iamb). Again, not important which so long as they match.

See what I mean about there being more than a rhyme scheme involved when writing limericks in the more detailed rules of the form?

Some poets who've used limericks include: Edward Lear, Ogden Nash, William Shakespeare, Edward Gorey, Isaac Asimov, John Ciard, Gershon Legman, and even The Beatles.

I, as you might have noticed by my lengthy ramble, find poetry forms particularly interesting. There is so much more about limericks I haven't mentioned here and if you'd like to know more I'd suggest the link I posted about. Wikipedia is a treasure trove when it comes to information like this.

So, there you have it, limericks. *grins* I challenge myself to write all my form poetry exactly to the most complex detail of form rules. Not that I always succeed but it certainly makes it much more interesting to try. It's also so very rewarding to get it right.

Now you're all inspired to try your own limericks so go on of and give it a go and then enter it into Greg's contest, "Invalid Item"  I'd love to read what you come up with and I'll review. If you mention having attempted to follow the extended rules I'll review with those in mind, otherwise I'm happy just to go with the simplified variance.

The most important part of writing limericks is to have fun. They're supposed to be light-hearted and comedic. It's a nice break from some of the usually turgent emotions that make up the majority of poetry.